Back pack and fastener

ABSTRACT

A back pack having a closure flap with at least one fastening line attached thereto is engaged on a fastening means attached to the back of the back pack for closing and securing the flap thereof. The fastening means has an elongated body member secured at one end thereof to the back pack, and a post located near the second end of the body member which is secured thereto and to the back pack, with the post and body member forming a pulley-like element with the body member adapted to receive the line and place tension thereon when the line is pulled over the post. An ear protruding from the second end of the elongated body member and extending toward the first end thereof forms a notch with the body member which is adapted to receive and wedge therein the line which holds the flap closed under tension.

United States Patent 1 Sprecker 51 May 22, 1973 [54] BACK PACK AND FASTENER [76] Inventor: Donald H. Sprecker, 291 Prospect Street, Northampton, Mass.01060 22 Filed: Feb. 10, 1972 211 App]. No.: 225,182

[52] U.S..Cl. ..224/8 R, 24/130 [51] Int. Cl. ..A45f 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..224/8 R, 8 A, 9,

224/10, 25 A;24/130, 115 E, 115 R, 115 C, 115 H, 115 J, 123 G [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,390,673 12/1945 Wallace ..224/25 A X 636,516 11/1899 Gates 760,428 5/1904 Cross ..24/130 Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg Attorney-Joseph Levinson [57] ABSTRACT A back pack having a closure flap with at least one fastening line attached thereto is engaged on a fastening means attached to the back of the back pack for closing and securing the flap thereof. The fastening means has an elongated body member secured at one end thereof to the back pack, and a post located near the second end of the body member which is secured thereto and to the back pack, with the post and body member forming a pulley-like element with the body member adapted to receive the line and place tension thereon when the line is pulled over the post. An ear protruding from the second end of the elongated body member and extending toward the first end thereof forms a notch with the body member which is adapted to receive and wedge therein the line which holds the flap closed under tension.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 FIG. 2

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to back packs and more particularly to a fastening means for back packs which is adapted to close and secure the closure flap of a back pack in a simple and convenient way.

Back packs have been extensively used and associated with outdoor pursuits, such as hiking, mountain climbing, camping, cycling, traveling, etc. The conventional type back pack is characterized by having a flap which, when folded up, opens the top of the back and, when folded down, closes the pack and is secured to the back thereof. Numerous methods have been utilized for closing the flap of the back pack, with many older type packs having straps which fit into associated buckles attached to the back of the pack. When utilizing a fastening means such as this, both hands are normally required to provide for fitting the strap into the buckle with proper'tensioning of the strap being difficult to attain due to the difficulty of tightening the strap in the buckle, and then with the buckle holding the strap without slippage after it is tightened. The use of a single hand or utilizing hands with gloves on would be difficult, if not impossible, with such an arrangement. Newer types of back packs include flaps with lines or cords which fit into a D-ring arrangement on the back of the pack, with the cord being threaded through the D-ring and tied thereto. Here again, both hands would normally be required for such an operation, proper tensioning is difficult, and the operation is extremely difficult when the user has gloves on, which would be quite likely in hositle environments. It would thus be very desirable and useful to provide a simple backpack fastening means which is more convenient for the user, for example where only one hand is required to make the attachment, where proper tensioning is easily achieved, and where the operation may be performed even with gloves on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved back-pack fastening means which is simple and convenient, and overcomes the disadvantages of prior types of such means.

In carrying out this invention in one illustrative embodiment thereof, a fastening means is attached on the back of a back pack having a closure flap with at least one fastening line which is adapted to engage said fastening means. The fastening means has an elongated body member secured near a first end thereof to the back of the back pack and is secured near the second end thereof through a post to the back of the back pack with the post and body member forming a pulley-like element adapted to receive the line and place tension thereon when the line is pulled over the post. An ear protruding from the second end of the body member toward the first forms a notch between it and the body member which is adapted to receive and wedge therein a line which has been tensioned over said post for holding the back pack flap in a closed and secured position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a back pack utilizing the back-pack fastening means embodied in this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the back pack fastener utilized in this invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the back pack fastener shown in FIG. 2 taken along lines 33 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a back pack 10 positioned on the back of a user. The back pack 10 has a closure flap 12 with securing lines, ropes, cords, etc. 14 and 16 extending therefrom. The back 15 of the back pack 10 has attached thereto fastening means 18 and 20 into which lines 14 and 16, respectively, are positioned and secured for holding the closure flap 12 in a closed position.

As will be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, which illustrate only fastening means 20 but have the same structure as fastening means 18, the fastening means 20 comprises an elongated body member 22 fastened near one end 24 thereof by an attaching means 26 which may be in the form of rivets, eyelets, crimping means, or any other suitable attachment to the back 15 of the back pack 10. Near the second end 28 of the elongated body member 22 is positioned a post 30 which is attached to the body member 22 on one end thereof at 32, and at the other end thereof, 36, to the back 15 of the back pack 10. The post 20 is secured by means 32 and 36 of any suitable form such as riveting, crimping, etc. A circular plate 34 is positioned on the opposite side of back 15 from the attaching means 36 to add strength to the attachment to the back 15 and to help form a pulley-like element 31 which comprises the plate 34, the post 30, and the second end portion 28. The second end portion 28 is also provided with a protruding ear 40 which extends along the elongated body member 22 toward the first end 24 thereof. The ear 40 forms a notch or groove 44 with the body member 22, with the width of the groove accommodating the line 16 for wedging the line 16 in the groove 44. The ear 40 is also curved outward along extremity 42 from the body member 22 and away from the back 15 of the pack pack 10. The curved extremity 42 provides a convenient means for guiding the line 16 into the groove 44 for lodging the line therein.

In operation a line from the back pack is wrapped or positioned around the post 30 in the pulley-like element 31, which, as the line is pulled therearound, puts it under tension. The tensioned line is slipped in the groove 44 with the help of the guiding projection 42 of the ear 40, and the line is wedged in the groove, securing the line, and accordingly the backpack closure flap under tension. To open the flap 12, the line is merely pulled upwards out of the groove and released. The desired amount of tension is provided by the pulley-like element 31, and this tension is retained by merely slipping the line in the notch or groove 44. The plate 34 of the pulley-like element also prevents the line from rubbing on the back 15 of the back pack to prevent its wear and help maintain the attachment of the post to the back 15.

The back pack 10 is shown with two fastening means 18 and 20, and two lines 14 and 16. However, the number of fasteners utilized will depend on the size of the pack and the desires of the user. A conventional twoline arrangement has been shown for purposes of disclosure. It will also be apparent that the ear 40 could be positioned on the right side of the body member 22 instead of the left as shown, changing the tensioning operation from a clockwise to a counterclockwise arrangement, which might be more convenient for lefthanded people. It is believed apparent that a very simple, convenient means has been described which facilitates fastening either with the use of a single hand or with gloves, since all the user must do is to grasp the line, wrap it around the fastening means, pull, and slip it into a wedging notch. Likewise, release is just as simple, and requires only the lifting of the line out of the notch to release the line. Time is saved, and frustration of a busy camper, at least with respect to the backpack fastening, is alleviated by the present invention.

Although other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, this invention is not considered limited to the examples chosen for purposes of disclosure and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A back-pack and fastening means for closing and securing the flap of the back pack comprising a. a back pack having a closure flap with at least one fastening line attached thereto and extending therefrom,

b. a fastening means attached on the back of said back pack at a position thereon adapted to be engaged by said line,

c. said fastening means having an elongated body member secured near a first end thereon to the back of said back pack,

d. a post secured to said elongated body member near the second end thereof and to the back of said back pack forming a pulley-like element with said elongated body member adapted to receive said line and place tension thereon when said line is pulled over said post, and

e. an ear protruding from said second end of said elongated body member toward said first end thereof forming a notch with said body member which is adapted to receive and wedge therein said line, thereby holding said flap closed.

2. The back-pack and fastening means set forth in claim 1 wherein said ear is curved outward from said body member at its outer extremity thereof for facilitating the positioning of said line in said notch.

3. The back-pack and fastening means set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure flap has at least two lines spaced along said flap and two fastening means associated therewith.

4. The back-pack and fastening means set forth in claim 1 wherein said post has a plate on the end fastened to said back pack which is part of said pulley-like element and provides support for the attachment of said post to said back pack.

5. The back-pack and fastening means set forth in claim 2 wherein said closure flap has at least two lines spaced along said flap and at least two fastening means associated therewith. 

1. A back-pack and fastening means for closing and securing the flap of the back pack comprising a. a back pack having a closure flap with at least one fastening line attached thereto and extending therefrom, b. a fastening means attached on the back of said back pack at a position thereon adapted to be engaged by said line, c. said fastening means having an elongated body member secured near a first end thereon to the back of said back pack, d. a post secured to said elongated body member near the second end thereof and to the back of said back pack forming a pulleylike element with said elongated body member adapted to receive said line and place tension thereon when said line is pulled over said post, and e. an ear protruding from said second end of said elongated body member toward said first end thereof forming a notch with said body member which is adapted to receive and wedge therein said line, thereby holding said flap closed.
 2. The back-pack and fastening means set forth in claim 1 wherein said ear is curved outward from said body member at its outer extremity thereof for facilitating the positioning of said line in said notch.
 3. The back-pack and fastening means set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure flap has at least two lines spaced along said flap and two fastening means associated therewith.
 4. The back-pack and fastening means set forth in claim 1 wherein said post has a plate on the end fastened to said back pack which is part of said pulley-like element and provides support for the attachment of said post to said back pack.
 5. The back-pack and fastening means set forth in claim 2 wherein said closure flap has at least two lines spaced along said flap and at least two fastening means associated therewith. 